Which symptoms may occur when alcohol is consumed after taking disulfiram (Antabuse)?

Which symptoms may occur when alcohol is consumed after taking disulfiram (Antabuse)?

• A. Nausea and mild dizziness only
• B. Sweating, flushing, hyperventilation, dyspnea, blurred vision, vomiting, tachycardia and confusion
• C. Headache with no autonomic symptoms
• D. Short-lived euphoria with no other symptoms

Answer: (B)

Disulfiram blocks aldehyde dehydrogenase, so when alcohol is consumed, acetaldehyde accumulates and triggers a disulfiram-ethanol reaction. The symptoms described—sweating, flushing, hyperventilation or dyspnea, blurred vision, vomiting, tachycardia, and confusion—reflect this reaction's widespread autonomic and vasomotor effects. This constellation is classic for the disulfiram-alcohol reaction, making it the best match. The other options don’t fit because they describe only partial or different experiences: nausea with mild dizziness alone lacks the prominent autonomic symptoms; a headache with no autonomic signs omits the characteristic flushing, sweating, and breathing changes; short-lived euphoria with no other symptoms isn’t the expected reaction to acetaldehyde buildup.

Disulfiram blocks aldehyde dehydrogenase, so when alcohol is consumed, acetaldehyde accumulates and triggers a disulfiram-ethanol reaction. The symptoms described—sweating, flushing, hyperventilation or dyspnea, blurred vision, vomiting, tachycardia, and confusion—reflect this reaction's widespread autonomic and vasomotor effects. This constellation is classic for the disulfiram-alcohol reaction, making it the best match.

The other options don’t fit because they describe only partial or different experiences: nausea with mild dizziness alone lacks the prominent autonomic symptoms; a headache with no autonomic signs omits the characteristic flushing, sweating, and breathing changes; short-lived euphoria with no other symptoms isn’t the expected reaction to acetaldehyde buildup.